Whether or not you need to be hospitalized, if you or a traveling companion tested positive for COVID-19 you may need to isolate before returning home. The costs of isolation can vary greatly depending on the country and facility where you’re isolating.
As Lonely Planet reports, “In many cases, your hotel will allow you to extend your stay and quarantine on premises. Some hotels will move guests into government-mandated quarantine sites, which can vary from five-star accommodations to bare-bones barracks. Although a handful of these facilities, like those in Greece, are paid for by the government, you will often foot the bill.”
Nerdwallet recommends that you budget at least $100 a night just for the lodging component of your quarantine, with a 10-night minimum –and remember, meals and tests are extra.
Fortunately, if you are diagnosed with COVID-19 or another sickness and are insured, you can be reimbursed for certain additional unexpected expenses on your trip, such as lodging if the plan terms are met.
This really comes in handy in a scenario like the following: It’s the last day of your vacation, you’re being tested prior to departure, and someone in your traveling party tests positive.
It’s a not-uncommon scenario, unfortunately, but the good news is that travel insurance can help. If a self-isolation period is necessary before the traveler can return home, we will arrange local accommodations.
Covered Expenses: Travel Delay coverage can reimburse you for additional costs, such as accommodations and food. This also applies if your traveling companion is diagnosed with COVID-19, and you are not, but you still have to pay for additional lodging at your destination.
We will also check in with you throughout the self-isolation period to ensure that your condition is stable and if you require medical treatment.
Extension of Coverage
Your travel insurance doesn’t just end if your trip is unexpectedly extended beyond your scheduled return date. The insurance coverages will be extended if your entire trip is covered by the plan and your return is delayed by unavoidable circ*mstances beyond your control. If coverage is extended, coverage will end either on the date you reach your originally scheduled return destination or seven days after your scheduled return date, whichever comes first.
Return Home
If COVID-19 forces you to extend your stay and you have to rebook flights, you could be at the airlines’ mercy. A last-minute flight could cost you a lot more than you paid for your ticket originally.
Luckily, with one of our plans, we can help arrange the traveler’s return trip home.
Covered Expenses: WithTrip Interruption coverage, you can be reimbursed unused, non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs and additional transportation costs to return home or rejoin your group.
Considering all that can happen if you’re sick and stuck abroad these days it’s clear that travel insurance can be valuable when you get sick abroad –and with COVID-19 raising the odds of that possibility, it’s more valuable than ever.
If you have questions on how our travel insurance plans can provide coverage for COVID-19,read the FAQs,read a policy, andstart a chat or callif you still have questions.
If you’re satisfied with the answers,get a travel insurance quote. It’s fast and free.
